How much do apprentices get paid?

The short answer: It depends.

High-growth industries, like tech, may pay over £25,000 for entry-level apprenticeship roles. Apprenticeship opportunities in other industries might pay less. Your apprenticeship wage also depends on what company you work for and the level of your position.

To help you understand how much you could earn as an apprentice, we'll guide you through the following:

The apprenticeship minimum wage is the basic hourly amount employers must pay apprentices. The minimum pay depends on your age and how long you’ve been an apprentice.

For example, in 2024, the apprentice wage for those aged under 18 is £6.40 per hour. But if you’re 19 or over and have completed your first year, you’re entitled to the National Minimum Wage(opens new window) for your age group.

Here’s a breakdown of the minimum hourly wage for apprentices depending on your age and year of study. Note: these figures represent the minimum hourly wage for 2024. The 2025 minimum wages, which go into effect in April 2025, are also listed.

In the UK, the National Minimum Wage is updated each April. Apprentices aged 21 and over who’ve completed the first year of their apprenticeship are eligible for the National Living Wage.

The National Minimum Wage for apprentices is the minimum your employer must pay you. Many organisations (including Multiverse) pay you much more than the National Minimum Wage rate to complete your apprenticeship. For instance, if you’re entering a high-growth and in-demand field like tech, wages tend to be higher than the minimum.

At Multiverse, the companies we work with pay a minimum of £18,000 a year. But you’ll find roles on our platform (opens new window)that pay £25,000 or more per annum (per year). We focus on the skills of the future, offering high-quality apprenticeship opportunities across key sectors like Business, Digital and Tech.

Multiverse programmes include:

Let’s break it down. Your apprenticeship salary is the amount an employer pays you yearly before income tax and other deductions like National Insurance. How much income tax you pay depends on which tax band you’re in, and your total earnings determine your tax band.

You’re likely in the basic band if you’re working in an entry-level role. In the basic band, you’re taxed on income between £12,571 to £50,270(opens new window). You don’t pay tax for income below £12,570 (your tax-free Personal Allowance limit). The UK Government taxes earnings in this threshold at 20%.

You’re in the next tax band (the higher rate) if you earn above the basic rate threshold. In the higher rate tax band, you’ll be taxed 40% for income between £50,271 and £125,140. An additional rate of 45% applies to incomes over £125,140.

Now for the maths. Let’s say your salary is £20,000 per annum (per year), and you’re doing an apprenticeship lasting 15 months. Yearly you’ll take home around £17,624 after tax and National Insurance. Monthly you’ll take home around £1,468. Throughout your entire apprenticeship, you’ll earn £22,020.

To complete your apprenticeship full-time, you are typically expected to work at least 30 hours per week. However, if you have specific circumstances (for example, if you’re a carer for a family member), you may be able to work part-time. For part-time apprentices, such as those working 16 hours per week, the apprenticeship duration will be extended to ensure adequate training time.

Your employer must follow employment regulations regarding your working hours:

In addition to your set working hours, apprenticeships require that you dedicate at least 20% of your working time to training or studying for your qualification. In a Multiverse programme, you’ll typically spend at least one day a week studying toward your apprenticeship qualification.

Whether you complete your apprenticeship full-time or part-time, your employer will pay you for working and training hours. Aside from being paid to complete your apprenticeship, you’re legally entitled to employee benefits like holidays, sick pay and rest breaks.

As an apprentice, you’ll be paid for your time at work. You’re also paid for the time you’re in coaching sessions and bootcamps with industry experts (off the job training). You’ll spend 80% of your time working for your employer and  20% of your time doing off the job training. You’ll also be paid for time working towards English and Maths qualifications if they’re part of your apprenticeship.

As a full-time apprentice, you’re entitled to a minimum amount of paid holiday. For each year of your qualification, you’ll get at least 20 days of holiday pay plus bank holidays. Many employers provide apprentices well above the minimum paid holiday and offer company-wide shutdowns once a year.

If you’re too ill to work, sick pay offers peace of mind. You’re entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)(opens new window) as an apprentice. The minimum amount is £116.75 a week for 28 weeks. Some companies offer sick pay schemes that pay more than the basic weekly amount. For example, an employer might offer up to two weeks of paid sick leave at your usual weekly rate.

You’re legally entitled to rest breaks at work like any other employee. If you’re under 18 and your working day is longer than 4.5 hours, your employer must give you a 30-minute break. If you’re 18 or over(opens new window), you’ll get a 20-minute break if you work more than six hours daily. As with holiday and sick pay, many companies will offer apprentices above the minimum amount. For instance, you might get up to an hour for lunch and shorter breaks throughout the day.

There’s never been a better time to start your apprenticeship journey. An apprenticeship empowers you to join high-growth industries and gain independence faster than other programmes. To top it off, you’ll get paid to learn. Let’s look at the main benefits of becoming an apprentice so you can decide if it’s right for you.

Apprentices are in demand across the board, especially in high-growth sectors. Let’s take the tech industry as an example. In 2024, there were 122 “unicorn” startups — startups with a valuation of $1 billion (roughly £770 million) — in the UK alone. The UK tech sector is still growing in 2024, and companies need new, diverse talent. AI is also driving high levels of investment by tech companies. According to Multiverse data, 81% of tech leaders plan to increase investments in AI(opens new window) — including on human capital — over the next three years.

All apprentices get paid to work and learn. Some industries pay more than others. Companies with a skills gap will happily pay you to complete your apprenticeship and gain industry expertise in your field. (Whether you’re looking to upskill and progress in an existing role or start a new career in tech, this applies.)

Multiverse partners pay entry-level tech apprentices between £18,000 to £25,000 a year. Plus, your earning potential will grow as you work through your qualification.

Say you’re an entry-level Data Analyst studying an Advanced Data Fellowship apprenticeship. You get paid £24,000 a year while you qualify and gain transferable skills. By completing the programme, you’ll join a career landscape where Data Analysts make £30,295 a year(opens new window) on average.

Having a monthly salary and job security is a great way to support yourself as a young adult. Plus, earning and spending your own money teaches you skills like budgeting and spending responsibly.

You could spend your salary finding a place to rent, travelling, having new experiences, or saving for a rainy day. Regular income will also improve your credit and make securing a mortgage or car payment easier.

Earning money and learning new skills is one of the fastest tracks to independence. With an apprenticeship, you’ll earn immediately rather than waiting until after university.

After you finish your apprenticeship, your company may offer you a permanent position with a promotion. Promotions usually come with a pay rise as compensation for your newfound experience and responsibilities.

You could be offered a permanent position without a pay rise. You could accept this offer if you’re happy with your role and salary. If the company you're working for doesn’t offer you a permanent position, you can look elsewhere. Having a new qualification and work experience at a top company will help you when looking for a new role.

An apprenticeship is a great way to join a high-growth industry, kickstart your career, earn a salary and avoid student debt. It helps you get your foot in the door at a top company, where your hard work can create opportunities for progression and promotion.

If an apprenticeship feels like the right fit for you, apply for a Multiverse programme(opens new window). In about ten minutes, you’ll fill out a profile of your interests and goals. Then, we’ll schedule a call to learn more about you and which apprenticeship programme and company would suit you best.